Simple carnitas –Hey y’all, today I’m bringing you some mouth-watering Pork Carnitas that are sure to make your tastebuds dance! This recipe is packed with flavor and is perfect for family gatherings or any time you want to impress your guests. Let’s dive in and get cookin’!
Pork Carnitas Recipe
Check out this delicious image of our finished dish:
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a look at what you’ll need for this scrumptious recipe:
Ingredients
- 3 pounds of pork shoulder (or pork butt), cut into large chunks
- 1 onion, coarsely chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup of chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons of ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Juice of 2 limes
- Cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- First off, you want to season those delicious chunks of pork with a generous amount of salt and pepper. Make sure every piece is well-coated.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat a little oil over medium-high heat. Brown the pork in batches, ensuring each piece gets a nice golden crust. This helps lock in all the flavors.
- Once all the pork is browned, set that aside. In the same pot, add your chopped onion and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until they’re soft and translucent.
- Add the minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and oregano. Stir it around for about 1 minute until your kitchen starts smelling amazing!
- Now, return the browned pork to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth, toss in the bay leaf, and squeeze in the juice of those limes. Stir it all together, bring it to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer.
- Let this cook low and slow for about 2-3 hours, or until the pork is fork-tender. You can also pop it in the oven at 300°F if you prefer. Just make sure to baste it occasionally!
- Once it’s done, remove the pork from the pot and let it rest for a few minutes. Then shred that glorious meat with two forks.
- Return the shredded pork to the pot, mix it up with those juices, and let it soak in the goodness for a few more minutes over low heat.
- Serve it up on warm tortillas, and don’t forget to top it off with some fresh cilantro. Enjoy every last bite!
There you have it, a simple yet flavorful Pork Carnitas recipe that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Try it out and watch it become a family favorite!
